Officials to Break Ground on $16 Million in Improvements to Missouri Wastewater Treatment Facility

Ground will be broken Wednesday, Feb. 17, for a $16 million project that will improve the Southwest Wastewater Treatment Plant in Springfield, Mo. The project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The wastewater project will utilize energy efficient technologies and green innovations that will lead to sustainable economic recovery, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA is working with community leaders and the public to develop innovative solutions for managing and financing wastewater infrastructure.

The project is creating 30 new jobs and is expected to be complete by spring of 2012.

Included in the wastewater treatment plant improvements are measures to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption. A new ozone disinfection system will reduce energy consumption resulting in future energy savings of approximately $4 million over 20 years. The ozone system also will reduce maintenance requirements resulting in savings of about $2 million over 20 years.

This is one of a series of EPA events occurring across the nation marking the one-year anniversary of President Obama signing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. EPA is awarding $7 billion in stimulus funds for core projects that meet both economic and environmental needs.

The Recovery Act seeks in part to spur technological advances in science and health and to invest in environmental protection and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits. As part of the Act, Missouri received $146 million for drinking water and wastewater projects.